2025-2026: Around the League

ORLMagicGirl15 · Post #141 » by **ORLMagicGirl15** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:03 am

RookieStar wrote:
ORLMagicGirl15 wrote:
thelead wrote:
Pulled from the GB:

Tyrese Haliburton - Achilles (likely tear) - June 2025
Jayson Tatum - Achilles rupture - May 2025
Joel Embiid - Achilles rupture - February 2024
RJ Barrett - ACL Tear - January 2024
Kelly Oubre - ACL Tear - November 2023
Bradley Beal - ACL/MCL - November 2023
Jordan Clarkson - ACL Tear - April 2023
Zach LaVine - ACL Tear - January 2022

No Wagner ACL tear December 2024

Not a Drew client

Oh sorry.

Post #142 » by **Bensational** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:04 am

Xatticus gets his championship!

To think, OKC’s journey into this started with Hennigan gifting them Oladipo and Sabonis for Ibaka. We can claim a bit of this ring too.

Optimus_Steel · Post #143 » by **Optimus_Steel** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:04 am

It’s rough to be that close and have that happen.

Post #144 » by **Bensational** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:06 am

bigdogdylan5 wrote:**** espn what they did to TJ McConnell was disgusting following him with a camera…

What’d they do? I must’ve missed that. They follow him when he was trying to let his emotions out privately or something?

thelead · Post #145 » by **thelead** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:07 am

Bensational wrote:
bigdogdylan5 wrote:**** espn what they did to TJ McConnell was disgusting following him with a camera…

What’d they do? I must’ve missed that. They follow him when he was trying to let his emotions out privately or something?

pretty much

RookieStar · Post #146 » by **RookieStar** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:07 am

FFBlitzace wrote:Can't imagine the heartbreak for Indy fans. It really sucks to see that happen.

Tragic injury aside, I was rooting for OKC. They are the better team. Realistically, Indy had a great run and kudos to them for that run, but they never had any real business being there. If they had won, people would have wanted to try emulating them, which would be a delusion. People are still going to overrate them and want to emulate them and I'm not looking forward to it.

Agreed. IND was just lucky all throughout the POs. Then again, luck is a skill.

They were also lucky enough they faced their toughest oponents teams that had smaller( aka guards) as their primary star. Knicks - Jalen , Cavs - Don , OKC - SGA.

If they had faced us or BOS wherr their 6'5 and under guards had to guard Paolo Franz JB or Tatum... i dont think they would advance. But who knows.

ivDT · Post #147 » by **ivDT** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:08 am

that was somehow more gross than i could've imagined.

Post #148 » by **Bensational** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:12 am

I like OKC a lot on paper but when they win, they become very unlikeable to me. Dunno why, but their brand of celebration is a real turn off for me.

Still, fantastic collection of players, many of which could’ve been playing for us if we’d made the right moves at the right time. Hopefully it’s us facing them in the next finals.

RookieStar · Post #149 » by **RookieStar** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:15 am

Bensational wrote:I like OKC a lot on paper but when they win, they become very unlikeable to me. Dunno why, but their brand of celebration is a real turn off for me.

Still, fantastic collection of players, many of which could’ve been playing for us if we’d made the right moves at the right time. Hopefully it’s us facing them in the next finals.

I too like OKC in theory

But the foul merchant thingy plus Dorts flops turned me off. Not to mentioj Caruso and Dorts non calls when they commit fouls.

bigdogdylan5 · Post #150 » by **bigdogdylan5** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:18 am

Bensational wrote:
bigdogdylan5 wrote:**** espn what they did to TJ McConnell was disgusting following him with a camera…

What’d they do? I must’ve missed that. They follow him when he was trying to let his emotions out privately or something?

Yea his mom had to shoo them away

Idiosyncratic · Post #151 » by **Idiosyncratic** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:19 am

In a surprising twist, the best team in the NBA won the title.

I was watching the game thinking about how the heck we would deal with OKC's ball pressure if we somehow met them in the finals.

Post #152 » by **FFBlitzace** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:20 am

Bensational wrote:Xatticus gets his championship!

To think, OKC’s journey into this started with Hennigan gifting them Oladipo and Sabonis for Ibaka. We can claim a bit of this ring too.

Meh. Xatticus can do what he wants, there are no laws on who anybody has to root for year-to-year. If he couldn't be happy with the Magic and he has happiness in life now, more power to him. It's just basketball, after all. But if I was the one determining who got imaginary fan championship rings, he wouldn't be getting one. No mercenary rings in my book. You have a team and that is your team. Jump ship if you must, but you're not really a winner anymore once you do.

RookieStar · Post #153 » by **RookieStar** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:21 am

Idiosyncratic wrote:In a surprising twist, the best team in the NBA won the title.

I was watching the game thinking about how the heck we would deal with OKC's ball pressure if we somehow met them in the finals.

I have a feeling DEN or HOU gonna stop their quest for a repeat

thelead · Post #154 » by **thelead** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:23 am

OKC shamelessly tanked in 2022. We should have done the same when Wemby was the prize... I know no one wanted to do it once we had Paolo... but it was the move to make in the second half of the season. It is what it is at this point, but we would have been right next to OKC if we had Wemby, Paolo, Franz, and Suggs.

Post #155 » by **FFBlitzace** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:29 am

OKC won but I think their playoff run kinda showed that they're not actually amazing. Good enough to win the championship this time, but I don't walk away from it feeling like they're a dominant group that's going to steamroll into one or two more. They are the champions and credit to them for that, they were the best team this year. But I'm not gifting them the next one automatically. That said, they will still open as favorites, and rightfully so.

Post #156 » by **Bensational** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:30 am

FFBlitzace wrote:
Bensational wrote:Xatticus gets his championship!

To think, OKC’s journey into this started with Hennigan gifting them Oladipo and Sabonis for Ibaka. We can claim a bit of this ring too.

Meh. Xatticus can do what he wants, there are no laws on who anybody has to root for year-to-year. If he couldn't be happy with the Magic and he has happiness in life now, more power to him. It's just basketball, after all. But if I was the one determining who got imaginary fan championship rings, he wouldn't be getting one. No mercenary rings in my book. You have a team and that is your team. Jump ship if you must, but you're not really a winner anymore once you do.

Xat was more a fan of the game and certain philosophies and he saw OKC building in that model and jumped to follow them. I can support that. He didn’t chase a bandwagon. He made a choice and got to follow a team building the way he would.

Idiosyncratic · Post #157 » by **Idiosyncratic** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:33 am

FFBlitzace wrote:OKC won but I think their playoff run kinda showed that they're not actually amazing. Good enough to win the championship this time, but I don't walk away from it feeling like they're a dominant group that's going to steamroll into one or two more. They are the champions and credit to them for that, they were the best team this year. But I'm not gifting them the next one automatically. That said, they will still open as favorites, and rightfully so.

Agree, they were much more beatable than their record and Net Rating indicated. That being said, their age could have a lot to do with some of the struggles in the postseason. Plus they will basically be adding two lottery picks next year or could trade for some extra shooting/ball-handling off the bench if they want to address that issue.

thelead · Post #158 » by **thelead** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:34 am

FFBlitzace wrote:OKC won but I think their playoff run kinda showed that they're not actually amazing. Good enough to win the championship this time, but I don't walk away from it feeling like they're a dominant group that's going to steamroll into one or two more. They are the champions and credit to them for that, they were the best team this year. But I'm not gifting them the next one automatically. That said, they will still open as favorites, and rightfully so.

I had them as clear favorites going into this season. I have them and Houston practically tied at the moment for next season. It will all depend on how much growth Chet and JDub can show vs Houston's younger pieces (Sengun, Jabari) now that they have KD.

RookieStar · Post #159 » by **RookieStar** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:35 am

Bensational wrote:
FFBlitzace wrote:
Bensational wrote:Xatticus gets his championship!

To think, OKC’s journey into this started with Hennigan gifting them Oladipo and Sabonis for Ibaka. We can claim a bit of this ring too.

Meh. Xatticus can do what he wants, there are no laws on who anybody has to root for year-to-year. If he couldn't be happy with the Magic and he has happiness in life now, more power to him. It's just basketball, after all. But if I was the one determining who got imaginary fan championship rings, he wouldn't be getting one. No mercenary rings in my book. You have a team and that is your team. Jump ship if you must, but you're not really a winner anymore once you do.

Xat was more a fan of the game and certain philosophies and he saw OKC building in that model and jumped to follow them. I can support that. He didn’t chase a bandwagon. He made a choice and got to follow a team building the way he would.

TBF... whilr Xat didnt jump to a championship team like those frontrunners who became fans of the Heatles and Lakers when they were on top, he didnt also jump to a low rebuilding team.

He jumped to a team that a lot of us knew was gonna be a top team soon. Either that or he was a Chet fanboy and got mad we took Paolo

RookieStar · Post #160 » by **RookieStar** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:38 am

thelead wrote:
FFBlitzace wrote:OKC won but I think their playoff run kinda showed that they're not actually amazing. Good enough to win the championship this time, but I don't walk away from it feeling like they're a dominant group that's going to steamroll into one or two more. They are the champions and credit to them for that, they were the best team this year. But I'm not gifting them the next one automatically. That said, they will still open as favorites, and rightfully so.

I had them as clear favorites going into this season. I have them and Houston practically tied at the moment for next season. It will all depend on how much growth Chet and JDub can show vs Houston's younger pieces (Sengun, Jabari) now that they have KD.

I dunno... a healthy DEN still looms the roqdblock to all Western teams aspirations